Designated roads shown on the map, called the Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map, enhance the visitor experience and public safety by supporting State Park Police patrols and the ability to conduct routine maintenance and improving access for emergency response personnel. Further, the map serves to ensure the protection of wildlife habitat and rare plant species found within the forest. Additional signage will be installed to support the map and clarify areas for vehicle access and those closed to vehicles.
To learn more about how the Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map was developed, a video is available explaining the process, details, enforcement and future adaptations.
“Wharton State Forest is the perfect place to experience the famed and ecologically unique New Jersey Pinelands,” said Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “With the release of this map, we are taking a crucial measure to ensure visitors can continue to enjoy all the forest has to offer but in a more responsible way that preserves its natural and historical resources for future generations.”
The map is available online and is also offered as a georeferenced PDF, allowing drivers to use their mobile device to determine their location on the map in real time, including in areas with limited or no cellular service. Additionally, printed copies are now available at the Atsion and Batsto offices within the forest.
“The release of the Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map is a milestone for enhancing both visitor safety and natural and historic resource protection and conservation throughout New Jersey’s state parks and forests,” said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forest & Historic Sites. “By clearly defining safe, legal vehicle roads, we’re improving access for responsible exploration while protecting Wharton’s diverse natural and cultural treasures, minimizing impacts on sensitive habitats and supporting the integrity of our shared public lands.”
“The Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map enhances public safety, improves emergency response and clarifies where vehicle access is and is not permitted, supporting resource protection,” said George Fedorczyk, Chief of the DEP State Park Police. “The map also confirms road names, which are crucial to directing first responders to emergencies, and generally enhances State Park Police’s ability to enforce the laws governing the state forest.”
Visiting Vehicle Use Map Purpose and Enforcement
State Park Police officers will begin enforcement of the new map today with an emphasis on educating forest visitors. Enforcement efforts will progressively increase as the new year begins. Enforcement of the designated roads will be supported by the installation of gates and barriers in areas where vehicles are prohibited.
With roads clearly designated on the map, State Park Police can better patrol the forest for illegal off-road vehicle use and issue citations when appropriate. Visitors are reminded that off-road vehicle use of any kind (for example, ATVs, side-by-sides, and other non-street-legal motorized vehicles) is illegal on state-owned lands. Vehicles operating in a state park, forest or wildlife management area must be street legal, registered, plated, insured, and operated by a licensed driver on an established road.
In 2021, the state Attorney General’s Office was successful in securing an increase in fines for illegal off-road vehicle use and damages. Illegal off-road activity now carries a fine of up to $500 for a first offense, up to $1,000 for a second offense, and a minimum of $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense. If a violation results in damage to or destruction of natural resources, an additional fine of five times the cost of the damage may be assessed.
Park visitors who encounter ATVs or other non-street-legal vehicles on or off established park roads or see suspicious or illegal activities on the DEP-managed public lands may call 1-877-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337). Additionally, the WARN NJDEP mobile applications allow visitors to report environmental abuses, including illegal off-road use, from their smartphone.
About Wharton State Forest
At 124,350 acres, Wharton State Forest sprawls across parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties and is one of the most popular destinations in the State Park System. It is situated in the heart of the million-acre Pinelands National Reserve, which is recognized for its unique natural resources and is designated as a U.S. Biosphere Reserve of national and international significance.
The DEP lists 43 animals found in the state forest as threatened or endangered, including the Pine Barrens tree frog, timber rattlesnake and pine snake. The state forest also boasts some 750 species of plants, including wild orchids, sedges, grasses, and insect-eating plants. Rare plants include the bog asphodel, swamp pink and Pine Barrens gentian. The predominant trees are the pitch pine, various oak species, and Atlantic white cedar.
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